Method of and apparatus for distributing material



H. F. SMITH. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED APR.4. I9I7.

Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Fig. 1.

gim -2:555:

M/VE/V TOR W/T/VESSEj 777 C. Mm WW H. F. SMITH.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED APR.4.19I7.

1,397,553, Patented Nov. 22, 1921,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

nun

/ IOW Md-IW.

H. F. SMITH.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED APIL4| I9I7.

1,397,553, Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STA'l E S PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY 1'. SMITH, OF LEXI NGTON. OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE GAS RESEARCH COMPANY, OF DAYTON, -OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING MATERIAL.

Application filed April 4,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY F. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lexington, Richland county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Method of and Apparatus for Distributing Material, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to distributing means and more particularly to a method of distribution, and the apparatus for carrying that method into effective operation whereby a uniform distribution of material is insured.

The objects of the invention are to provide a method whereby materials of varying character may be easily and properly distributed or spread, and to provide an apparatus for carrying this method into operation which is simple and economical, but withal truly effective, so as to permit of its practical application.

While it is to be understood that the method and apparatus forming the subject matter of my invention may be used for the distribution of many various kinds of material' a referred embodiment thereof is illustrate herein which is used in distributing or spreading coal or other solid fuel over the fuel bed in a fire box or gas producer, and this referred embodiment will be used as a. basis for describing the invention, it being evident that the same method and apparatus are equally capable of many other adaptations.

One means of carrying out my invention is to introduce fuel to the grate or fuel bed of the producer or fire box in a continual stream and at one side thereof, to introduce an explosive mixture into a chamber having an outlet adjacent to, and covered over by, the pile of fresh fuel, and to then ignite the mixture in the chamber, the full force of the explosion acting through the outlet upon the pile of fresh fuel to spread it in all directions and thus properly distribute it over .the fuel bed.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description set forth below, reference being :had to the accompanying drawing wherein Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

1917. SeriaI No. 159,843.

a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated and in which D Figure 1 is an elevation of my distributmg apparatus shown as attached to a as producer, certain parts thereof being brol en away, certain parts being shown diagrammatically and certain other parts being shown in section in order to more clearly disclose the structure.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the apparatus along the longitudinal axis thereof and at right angles to the view disclosed in F ig. 5.

iig. 3 is a view of the gear mechanism for driving the valve actuatin shaft and the timer, with the top part of 51c gear box removed.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the gear box along the line 44 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 shows the distributing mechanism as applied to a two unit rectangular gas producer. One of the greatest difficulties heretofore experienced in securing maximum efiiciency in a fire box has arisen through an inability to properly spread the fresh fuel over the surface of the fuel bed. And in gas producers this difliculty has been especially pronounced, since it is essential in such devices that the fuel bed be kept of the same consistency throughout and the fresh fuel distributed uniformly over the entire surface thereof. Numerous devices have been constructed for overcomin this heretofore ever present difiiculty, which devices have met with varying success and none of which thus far devised is completely satisfactory. Recognizing these defects in existing structures I have devised an entirely new method of spreading fuel and have also devised apparatus for carrying out this method.

In s reading fuel in accordance with my metho the fuel is introduced on to the fuel bed at one side thereof. This fuel may be introduced in a continuous stream from any form of coal hopper or may be fed into the fuel box 01' gas producer in any other desired manner. The sole necessity in introducing the fuel is that it be fed in such manner that it will collect in a pile and at one side of the fire box. The fuel having been thus collected in the fire box an explosive mixture is introduced to a closed chamber located near the firebox and having an outlet therefrom opening adjacent to the ile of fresh fuel, the opening of this out et bein covered by the pile of uel This outlet is Tocated near the bottom of the explosive chamber and the inlet for the introduction of the explosive mixture into the chamber is located near the top. By so locating the inlet and outlet the incoming explosive mixture will force out of the explosion chamber any burned gases left therein. A proper quantity of this explosive mixture having been admitted to the explosion chamber it is ignited, the full force of the explosion acting through the outlet on the pile of fresh fuel to scatter it broadcast and spread it uniformly over the fuel bed.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates a segment of the shell of a gas producer of conventional type having a fuel feeding mechanism 2 located at the top thereof whichmechanism is located so as to feed the fuel in such manner that it will collect at one side of the fuel bed and in a pile, the fuel bed being designated generally by the numeral 55. Attached to the producer shell is a metal chamber 3 which is held securely in posltion by means of the plate 4 and the outlet pipe 5, each of which is secure] at tached to the chamber 3 and to the pro ucer shell, Any desired form of fuel feeding mechanism adapted to deposit the fuel adjacent the end of the outlet ipe 5 may be used; and no detailed description of this fuel feeding mechanism is therefore thought necessary. However, the form of fuel feeding mechanism shown diagrammatically in the drawing and designated by numeral 2 is of the type disclosed in the patent to Harry F. Smith No. 1,373,265 dated March 29. 1921, and reference is made to that patent for a full description of the construction and mode of operation thereof. This fuel feed ng mechanism, as shown by the drawmg is provided with a port 50, containing a deflector plate 51, the construction being such that t e fuel is deposited within the producer adjacent the outlet pipe 5.

Extending upwardly from the top of chamber 3 is an inlet tube 6 the upper end of which is provided with a partition 7 dividing that part of the tube into two chambers 8 and 9. The chamber 8 is in unobstructed communication with the inside of chamber 3 while the chamber 9 has opening thereinto a pipe 10 which is connected to any suitable source for supplying an explosive mixture. A valve 11 is mounted in the pipe 10 so that the flow of explosive mixture therethrough may be shut off or regulated at will. The partition .7 has a valve port therein connecting the two chambers 8 and 9 which port is controlled by a valve 12, normally held on its seat by a spring 13. Pivotall attached to the inlet tube 6 is a yoke 14 t e upper face of which is adapted to 006 rate with the lower end of the stem of va ve 12 to raise'that valve from its seat and thus open communication between chambers 8 and 9. The lower face of the yoke '14 bears thereon a projection 15 which is adapted to coiiperate with a cam 16 borne by the revoluble shaft 17, whereby rotation of the shaft 17 will insure opening of the valve. The shaft 17 is carried by suitable supports 18 and one end thereof is connected to a train of gears housed in a box 19, which gears are in turn actuated from some independent source of power to rotate the shaft and its attached cam at any predetermined rate of speed so as to bring about any desired opening of the valve 12.

The mechanism by which the gears in the gear box 19 are driven is clearly shown in Fig. 5. Carried along the front of the producer is a counter shaft 20 supported in bearings 21. This shaft has mounted thereon a pulley 22 adapted to receive a belt for cooperation with a motor or some other device whereby the shaft 20 may be rotated. Fixed upon the counter shaft is also another ulley 23. Extending throu h one side of the gear box 19 is a stub s aft 24 which carries thereon the pulley 25. The pulleys 23 and 25 carry a belt whereby rotative movement of the shaft 20 1s lmparted to the stub shaft 24.

This stub shaft 24 carries at one end and inside the gear box 19, a small pinion 26 which meshes with the gear wheel 27 mounted on the shaft 28. Carried by the shaft 28 is the small pinion 29 which meshes with the gear wheel 30 which is carried on one end of the shaft 17. It is thus seen that upon rotation of the shaft 20 such rotative motion will be transmitted through the train of gears in the gear box 19 to the shaft 17. The speed of rotation of shaft 17 may be varied as desired by properly arranging the gear ratios of the members 26, 27, 29, 30.

Located upon the side of gear box 19' is an electrical timer 31 of any suitable and conventional form. This timer, which may be of any conventional type, is also shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. This timer is operated by means of a stub shaft 32 extending through the wall of gear box 19 and bearing on the end thereof a small pinion 33 which meshes with the gear 30.

Attached to the inlet tube 6 or an convenient part .of the explosion cham r or producer is a conventional vibrator coil 3-; which is properly connected up to the timer 31, by means of the conductors 37 and 38. This vibrator is also connected o .a park shaft 17 may lug 35, set into the u per wall of the chamer 8 so that a suitab spark may be obtained for i iting the explosive mixture therein and m the chamber 3. The timer and spark coil are connected to any suitable source of electrical current, this source being illustrated conventionally, at 36, as abattery.

In Fig. 5 my distributer is shown as applied to a two unit as producer. In such an assembl the she 17 is extended along the entire ength of the structure and has cams thereon for actuating all the inlet valves. It is of course obvious that in this manner distributers of this type can be applied to a multi-unit producer composed of any number of units.

he operation of the device is as follows. Fuel is introduced into the producer through the feeding mechanism 2 and collects in a pile at one side of the fuel bed. Because of the place of fuel introduction this pile is of necessity so located as to cover over the opening from the outlet 5. Meanwhile the counter shaft 20 is being rotated and through the medium of the ear mechanism in the gear box 19 the she t 17 is thus rotated at a predetermined speed. The speed of rotation of this shaft is so fixed that the cam 16 thereon will hold the valve 20 off its seat long enough to allow the chamber 3 to become filled with explosive mixture, and is such that the valve 12 will be allowed to move toward its seat when the chamber 3 is thus filled. The timer 31 which is also driven from the shaft 20 by means of the train of gears is so set that a spark will be passed between the terminals of the spark plug 35 at a predetermined time. This spark ignites that portion of the explosive mixture passing through the chamber 8 and the ignition spreads downwardl in the tube 6, being aided in such sprea ing by the movement of the gas itself, and ignites the explosive mixture collected in the chamber 3. By this time the valve 12 is seated'and the only outlet for the explosive force is through the outlet pipe 5. The full force of the explosion therefore acts on the pile of fuel adjacent to the opening of this outlet p pe and as a consequence this pile of fuel W1 1 be scattered broadcasuthrough the producer and distributed equably to all parts of the fuel bed.

It is of course obvious rate of rotation of the of time the valve 12 will varied and the amount sive mixture in And of course that by varyin the shaft 17 the le iigth remain open will be of charge of explothe chamber 3 also varied. the rate of rotation of the be varied at will by changing the gear ratios in the train of driving gears. Further it is obvious that the timer 31 may be so operated that the time of ignition may be set as desired and to cooperate with the closing of the valve 12.

sage for interrupting flow If desired the lining 40, of the reducer, may be constructed to form a shel 41 upon which the fuel, as it is fed by the fuel feeding mechanism 2' tends to collect ad acent the end of the oiltlet pipe 5.

While the. method herein described, and the form of ap aratus for carrying this method into eife'dz, constitute referred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood at the invention is not limited to this precise method and form of apparatus, and that changes may be made in either without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as m invention and desire to secure by Letters Pittent is 1. The method of distributing fuel within a gas producer, which consists in collecting within the generating chamber of the producer and at one side thereof, the fuel to be distributed; supplying an explosive mixture to an explosion chamber through an inlet passage; 1 i itin'g the mixture passing through sai inlet passage, and at substantially the same time interrupting the flow of the explosive mixture to the explosion chamber; and directin the resulting explosive effect upon the col ected fuel to distribute it over the fuel bed within the producer.

2. A device for distributin fuel within a generating chamber of a pro ucer, comprising the combination with a producer adapted to'contain a fuel'bed; of means for continuallly supplying the fuel to be distributed; an exp osion chamber having an unobstructed outlet, terminating adjacent the fuel to be distributed; means for introducin an explosive mixture thereinto; means or interrupting the flow of explosive mixture into the chamber; and means for igniting the mixture within the ing means and the igniting means being adapted to function at substantially the same time.

3. A device for distributing fuel within the generating chamber of a producer, comprising the combination I with a. roducer adapted to contaiii a fuel bed; of a el feeding mechanism ada ted to continually feed fuel to said fuel be adjacent one side thereof; an explosion chamber having an unobstructed outlet terminating adgacent that part of the fuel bed to which the uel feeding mechanism feeds fuel; an inlet passage for admitting explosive mixture into said explosion chamber, a valve within said inlet pastherethrough; igmtion means within said inlet assage; and means associated with said va ve and said ignition means adapted at predetermined intervals to causesaid ignition means to ignite the explosive mixture within said inlet passage, and at substantially the same time to actuate the said valve to interrupt flow of the explosive mixture to the explosion chamber.

4. The method of distributing fuel,so as to spread it over a predetermined surface, which consists in continually supplying the fuel to the place from which it 18 to be distributed; supplying an explosive mixture to a chamber having lts outlet ad'acent the collected fuel, interrupting the sive mixture to. the chamber at predetermined intervals and at the same time ignit- 10 ing the explosive mixture within said chamow of explo- In testimony whereof I aifix my signature 15 in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY F. SMITH. Witnesses: B. M. CHATTEBTON, WM. W. EARHART.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,397,553, granted November 22, 1921, upon the application of Harry F. Smith, of Lexington, Ohio, for an improvement in "Methods of and Apparatus for Distributing Material, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 52,

for the word equably read unifomtly; same page, line 102, claim 2, after the word distributed" and before the semicolon insert the words over said fuel bed;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 2d day of May, A. D., 1922.

[BELL] KARL FENNING,

Acting Commissioner of Pam. 

